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Today’s feature at Santa Anita is the GR 1 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 Mile for Fillies and Mares. This race showcases a matchup between last year’s BC Fillies and Mares sprint winner Finest City and the ultra-impressive Vale Dori , who has reeled off 3 straight GR 2 wins on the west coast. In addition, there are a […] Continue Reading

Each year, one of the premier races on the West Coast is the GR 1 Santa Anita Handicap at the classic distance of 1 ¼ Mile. This year’s event features some very good horses with some very fast Numbers. In post position order: 1. 8-5 Midnight Storm : Short layoff. Here is the morning line favorite and the likely pace […] Continue Reading

Today’s 11th race at Gulfstream is the GR 2 Hardacre Mile featuring a very solid group competing at Gulfstream’s one turn Mile. In post position order: 7-2 Tommy Macho: Rest then Best. Posted his career Best of 3.0 after an 8 week freshening, in an impressive 6 length Big Win last month right here in a GR 3 going a […] Continue Reading

One of my very favorite patterns is the Circle Back. In short, this pattern is one where a horse runs its Best, follows that Best with a Regression of one or more races, and then runs an improving race, although not as fast as its recent Best. This last race is what I call the turn-the-corner race. After the turn-the-corner […] Continue Reading

Today’s 12th race at Gulfstream is the $12 Million GR 1 Pegasus Stakes showcasing a rematch of the top two finishers from the most recent BC Classic. BC winner Arrogate and the phenomenal California Chrome battled to within ½ length in the BC Classic with 3rd place Keen Ice finishing a distant 10 lengths further back. By the Numbers, the […] Continue Reading

The fourth race at Gulfstream Park today is the Sunshine Millions Distaff Stakes. It features a competitive field of 6 older Fillies and Mares sprinting 6 furlongs. In post position order: 5-1 Flutterby : Long layoff. Posted an 8.7 Best (Extended Card) in August, 2015, and a more recent 16.0 Best a year ago. Her Numbers have gone south since […] Continue Reading

Today’s 11th race at Gulfstream is the GR 3 Hal’s Hope Stakes featuring a solid field of nine older horses going a flat one turn mile. In post position order: 12-1 Dolphus :5 Best. Marching pattern. Posted that 5.5 Best in an impressive gate to wire 9-length score in Allowance company at 7 furlongs in the Gulfstream slop. Very good […] Continue Reading

I tend to shy away from horses that are returning to the races after long layoffs. Mainly I am skeptical that they may not be fully recovered from whatever has kept them away, or that the trainer may not have them in top racing condition. However when a horse has previously earned a solidly superior Number compared to today’s competition, […] Continue Reading

The feature race at Santa Anita this Saturday is the GR 2 San Gabriel Stakes for older horses going 1 1/8 Mile on the Turf. The race appears solid with a full field of twelve entered. In post position order: 12-1 Blue Tone : 4.7 Best. Modest Circle Back pattern. Has never raced on the Turf and has mediocre Grass […] Continue Reading

Gulfstream Park offers a very nice day of races today, with the GR 3 Harlan’s Holiday Stakes being one of several Stakes races on the card. In post position order: 2-1 Stanford :1 Best. Layoff. He is returning after a 6 month layoff after being demolished by Frosted (like everyone else) in the Met Mile. He posted that 3.1 Best […] Continue Reading